Astros re-sign Michaels, invite Chacin to spring training

Club applauds outfielder’s skill, veteran attitude

By Jose de Jesus Ortiz |
December 14, 2009

A dozen of Jason Michaels' 18 starts were at center field with four coming in left field and two in right field.

Jason Michaels re-signed with the Astros on Monday, giving manager Brad Mills a backup outfielder, a righthanded bat off the bench and another veteran voice in a clubhouse that has lost some leaders.

“He was in the minor leagues when I was in Philadelphia, and he was highly thought of,” Mills said of Michaels. “His reputation in baseball is very solid as being a very solid clubhouse presence and a solid player.”

Michaels, 33, picked it up toward the end of the 2009 season with the Astros, hitting .308 with a .400 on-base percentage in his final 51 games to finish with a .237 average, four home runs and 16 RBIs. A dozen of his 18 starts in 2009 were in center field, with four coming in place of Carlos Lee in left field and two in right for Hunter Pence.

“He is a solid guy,” general manager Ed Wade said of Michaels. “We’ve lost some guys through free agency, and the leadership element is important.”

Michaels is a career .269 hitter with 49 home runs and 263 RBIs since breaking in with the Phillies in 2001.

The Astros also added lefthander Gustavo Chacin, 29, to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation. Chacin spent 2009 in the Phillies system.

With Michaels’ addition, the Astros have 40 players on their 40-man roster.